Method and apparatus for cutting and creasing



Dec. 12, 1939. HERRMANN 2,183,400

. METHOD AND APPARATUS F 0R CUTTING AND CREASING I Filed Feb. 23, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Han/7s RHerl-mann 1 H. R. HERRMA NN 2,183,400

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CUTTING AND CREASING' Filed Feb. 23, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

1a Z1 Z9 23 24 25 26 18 J4 INVENTOR Hanna 1?. Herrmarm W MIM Patented Dec. 12, 1939 PATENT OFFICE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CUTTING AND CREASING Hanns R. Herrmann, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Miller Printing Machinery 00., Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 23, 1939, Serial No. 257,950

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a press and, in particular, to a flat bed and cylinder press adaptable to the performance of cutting and creasing operations on relatively heavy stock such as cardboard or the like.

. It is customary to perform cutting and creasing operations on a fiat bed and cylinder press by mounting a hardened steel jacket on the cylinder, and placing cutting and scoring rules on the bed. In using a press in this manner, it has been the practice heretofore to make ready by removing the jacket from the cylinder. A test sheet is usually run through the press first, without any packing under the jacket. The condition of the 1 test sheet will determine the approximate thickness required underneath thejacket. This thickness of sheets is then placed under the jacket and a second test sheet run. This second test sheet is usually of draw sheet stock about .006"

thick and should be cut through only in spots. After going through the press, the places on the sheet which are not cut through are built up with A" gum or stay paper and the resulting sheet is known as a make-ready sheet. This make-ready sheet is then hung on the cylinder underneath the jacket, and a sheet of the same thickness removed. It is thus apparent that on every new job it is necessary to remove the jacket from the cylinder at least once and it is usually removed two or more times before the make-ready is complete. It is customary to fasten jackets to cylinders with screw clamps, and to remove or add packing underneath the jacket, the jacket must be swung clear of the cylinder or removed entirely. The process of making ready has thus been a tedious and time-consuming job.

I have invented a novel method and apparatus whereby the time required to make ready is greatly reduced and the whole operation materially 1 simplified.- In a preferred embodiment of the invention, I provide a plate liftably secured to the bed adapted to provide a backing forthe rules carried on the bed within the chase. The plate may conveniently be hinged to the bed and, .in

one form the hinges are secured to the chase and the plate is carried by the chase. In another form, the plate is hinged directly to the bed and the chase is removably disposed thereon.

The method which I follow in making ready, according to the present invention, is simply to lift the backing plate after a trial operation of the press, and paste build-up material on the bed where needed to cause the rules to penetrate to the desired extent into the thickness of the stock.

The following detailed description and ex-.

' planation refers to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment and practice and a modification. In the drawings Fig. 1' is a plan View of a bed having the invention incorporated therein;

Fig. 2 is a section taken through the bed along the plane of line 11-11 of Fig. 1, showing also the cylinder;

Fig. 3 is a partial section taken substantially along the plane of line IIIIII of Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modification.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and, for the present, to Figs. 1 through 3, a flat bed I0 is adapted to cooperate with a cylinder H in the processing of sheets, either for printing or cutting and creasing. As shown in the drawings, the cylinder H is provided with a hardened steel jacket l2 thereby adapting the press to perform a'cutting and creasing operation. The bed l0 may conveniently be of relatively light weight metal such as aluminum and is preferably of ribbed construction, as shown. Bearers 53 are disposed at opposite sides of the bed, in the usual manner. A stop bar I4 is secured to the inner end of the bed.

A chase I5 is hinged to the bar M by hinges IS. A backing plate 11 preferably of hardened steel is secured to the chase l5 as by rivets l8-and extends over the surface of the bed. Chase clamps I9 are provided at the outer edge of the bed for engaging a strip 20 disposed along the outer side of the chase, to hold the latter in position on the bed.

Cutting rules 2| and scoring rules 22 are assembled on the plate I! and within the chase iii, in the desired pattern, between spacing blocks 23. The assembly of blocks and rules is positioned in the chase by spacer strips 24, quoins 25, and bars 26.

In performing cutting and creasing operations with the aid of the apparatus described, a trial operation is effected when the rules have been assembled in the chase as indicated and the chase clamped to the bed. Should it appear that any portion of the rules '2! does not effect a clean cut, it is only necessary to release the clamps l9 and swing the chase and backing plate I] about the inner edge thereof. This operation is permitted by the hinges l6 and requires only that the bed be retracted to its starting position. With'the chase and backing plate in up-tilted position, it is a relatively simple matter to paste build-up sheets 21 on the bed where needed to cause the cutting rules to effect a clean out. After applying the build-up material to the bed, the chase and backing plate are lowered and clamped for another trial operation. In this manner, the operation of making ready may be performed easily and expeditiously. The entire operation of raising the chase and backing plate, applying the build-up material, and re-clamping the chase can be efiected in less time than is necessary to remove the steel jacket when making ready in accordance with the practice obtaining heretofore.

Making ready with respect to the scoring rules is accomplished in the conventional manner by applying build-up material to the exterior of the jacket l2 as indicated at 28. Strippers in the form of cork blocks 29 are also employed as usual on both sides of the cutting rules.

A modified form of the invention is shown in Fig. 4. According to this modification, the backing plate indicated at 30 is hinged directly to the bed 3! by hinges 32. The bed is suitably recessed to receive the hinges and the latter are secured to the stop bar 33 as by rivets 34. The chase 35 is of usual construction and is removably disposed on the plate 30. A spacer strip 36 may be desirable between the chase 35 and the stop bar 33.

The manner of using the modified form of the invention is about the same as that already described. It will be understood, of course, that the chase shifts slightly on the backing plate when the outer edge of the latter is swung upwardly on the hinges 32 for the purpose of applying buildup material to the bed. The chase can easily be replaced in proper position on the backing plate when the latter is lowered, however, with sufficient accuracy to insure proper registry of the sheets with the rules.

It will be clear from the foregoing description and explanation that the invention makes it possible to reduce materially the time and labor involved in the operation of making ready for cutting and creasing. The structure involved is quite simple and relatively inexpensive, and does not involve a substantial change in conventional bed construction to accommodate the added parts. Such changes as are required, furthermore, do not interfere with the use of the press in ordinary printing operations.

Although I have illustrated and described but a preferred embodiment of the invention and a modification, it will be understood that numerous changes in the construction and practice disclosed may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a fiat bed and cylinder press adaptable to cutting and creasing operations, a chase movably secured to the bed, and a plate secured to said chase, said plate providing a backing for scoring or cutting rules disposed within the chase, whereby said plate and rules may be raised from the bed for the purpose of making ready.

2. In a cutting and creasing press, a bed, a plate extending thereover, said plate being liftable and adapted to support and provide backing for stock-engaging rules whereby said rules may be raised for making ready, and a chase on said plate adapted to hold the rules in position thereon.

3. In a cutting and creasing press, a bed, a chase, a plate resting on the bed and adapted to provide a backing for stock-engaging rules positioned in the chase, said plate being liftable from the bed for the purpose of making ready, and said chase being disposed on said plate.

4. In a method of cutting and creasing sheets by passing them between a cylinder and a bed furnished with rules and reciprocating beneath the cylinder, the cylinder being efiective to press the sheets against the rules, the step of applying make-ready sheets under said rules to increase the impression in the stock eflected thereby.

5. In a cutting and creasing press, a bed, a plate on said bed providing a backing for stockengaging rules disposed in a chase on the bed, said plate being hinged to the bed adjacent one edge whereby the plate may be raised for the purpose of making ready.

6. In a cutting and creasing press, a bed, a plate on said bed, a chase secured to said plate and hinged adjacent one edge to said bed, said plate providing a backing for stock-engaging rules disposed in said chase, and being liftable with the chase for the purpose of making ready.

1. In a bed and cylinder press, a cylinder, a bed reciprocable relatively to the cylinder, a plate on the bed providing a backing for work-engaging means adapted to be disposed thereon and means cooperating with the bed and plate whereby the plate may be moved relatively to the bed, to permit make-ready material to be applied to the press so as to be disposed between the plate and bed when the plate is in operative position on the bed, and thereafter moved back without adjustment to its original position.

8. In a bed and cylinder press, a cylinder, a bed reciprocable relatively to the cylinder, a plate on the bed providing a backing for work-engaging means adapted to be disposed thereon and means connecting the bed and plate movable to permit movement of the plate relatively to the bed, so that make-ready material may be applied to the press so as to be disposed between the plate and bed When the plate is in operative position on the bed, and subsequent movement of the plate relatively to the bed back into its original position without adjustment.

9. In a bed and cylinder press, a cylinder, a bed, a plate on the bed providing a backing for work-engaging means adapted to be disposed thereon and hinge means connecting the plate with the bed.

10. In a bed and cylinder press, a cylinder, a bed, a flexible plate on the bed providing a backing for work-engaging means adapted to be disposed thereon and means cooperating with the bed and plate whereby the plate may be moved relatively to the bed, to permit make-ready material to be applied to the press so as to be disposed between the plate and bed when the plate is in operative position on the bed, and thereafter moved back without adjustment to its original position.

HANNS R. HERRMANN. 

